Side rails for hospital beds



March 22, 1960 sMlTH ETAL SIDE RAILS FOR HOSPITAL BEDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1957 INVENTOR.

ARCHIE R.SM|TH ROY T. ADOLPHSON W FIG.2

March 22, 1960 A. R. SMITH ET L SIDE RAILS FOR HOSPITAL BEDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1957 FIG.3

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INVENTOR. ARCHIE R.SMITH ROY T. ADOLPHSON WTORNE;

March 22, 1960 M H ETAL 2,929,078

SIDE RAILS FOR HOSPITAL BEDS Filed June 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ARCHIE R. SMITH ROY T. ADOLPHSON BY ATTORNEY SIDE RAILS FOR HOSPITAL BEDS Archie R. Smith, Centerville, 11]., and Roy T. Adolphson, Webster Groves, Mo., assignors to Shampaine Com pany, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application June 24, 1957, Serial No. 667,565

13 Claims. (Cl. -331) L; This invention relates to new and useful improvements in side rails for hospital beds.

In order to prevent'unconscious or helpless patients from accidentally falling out of bed, it is usual practice, in hospitals and sickrooms, to install removable side rails upon the bed. These rails are usually attached to the understructure of the bed or to the spring frame by means of special fittings, which are rather cumbersome and usually require greater mechanical skill than is ordinarily possessed by nurses and hospital orderlies.

Furthermore, existing types of side rails are rather difficult to manipulate and are often of such design and appearance as to give the patient a feeling of restraint bordering upon claustrophobia.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a side rail for hospital beds which can be quickly and easily attached to any hospital bed frame.

It isalso an object of the present invention to provide a side rail mechanism for hospital beds which permits the rail portion of the structure to be moved from one bed to another without extensive mechanical disassembly and reassembly operations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide 7 a half side rail of the type stated which is easily manipulated upwardly and downwardly and can be positively locked inupwardly shifted position.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a hospital bed having attached thereto a half side rail constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line .2 o Fig.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4 -4-of Fig. 3;

Fig, 5 'is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5 -5 of Fig. 4;

1 =ig. 6 is;a fragmentary sectional View showing a modified form of the present invention; and

, ig l is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7+"? of Fig. 6.

Referring now in more detail and by reference charac ters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a side rail eornprising a- U-shaped member 1 formed of rigid hollow tubular steel andintegrally including legs 2 2', connected by a bigh-t-3.; Welded at its upperendto the bight 3, and

attending downwardlytherefrom midway between and parallel to the legs; 2, .2, is. a center-post 4. Operatiyely associated; with-the side rail is an elongated mounting channel fi integrally including a central horizontal web 6 andispaced parallel; vertical legs 7, 7. The web 6 is provided at its opposite ends with apertures 8, 8', which the web 6 is a plate 10 having welded thereto a depending tubular sleeve 11, in which the center-post 4 is slidably disposed. Welded to the leg 7 is a latch mechanism 12 comprising a mounting block 13 having an axial extension 14 whichprojects through an aperture 15 in leg 7.

The mounting block 13 is drilled in the provision of a bore 16 having a diametrally reduced portion 17, in which a plunger arm 18 is slidably fitted, the latter being provided on one end with a catch 19 and on its other end with a manipulating knob 20. Positioned in the bore 16 between the catch 19 and a shoulder 21 is a compression spring 22 which urges the catch 19 into optional engagement with vertically spaced lower and upper slots 23, 24, formed in the center-post 4.

Provided for securing the mounting channel 5 to the rail 25 of a hospital bed B is a clamping assembly 26 comprising a bracket casting 27 integrally provided with grip-forming sections 28, 29, connected by a central web 30. The gripforming sections 28 29, each include overhanging fingers 31, 32, which are adapted to bear against the upper surface of the bed rail 25, and, at their lower ends, the grip-forming sections 28, 29, are each provided with downwardly depending spaced parallel ears 33, 34,

35, 36. Rockably pinned between the cars 33, 34, 35, 36, is a pair of U-shaped members 37, 38, each provided with rear .arms 39, 40, normally adapted to bear against the the leg 7 of the mounting channel 5 and will cause the rear arms 39, 40, to bear tightly against the bed rail 25, thereby urging the rail mounting channel 5 and bed rail 25 tightly against the bracket casting 27 to form a rigid attachment.

In use, the mounting channel 5 is placed in position adjacent the bed rail 25 with the overhanging fingers 31, 32, on the top surface of the bed rail 25 andthe rear arms 39, 40, of the U-shaped members 37, 38, in position so as to abut the bed rail 25. The knobs 47, 48, are then manipulated so as to draw the bed rail 25 and mounting channel 5 into tightly clamped position. The U-shaped member 1 is then fitted within the mounting channels and is locked in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 by the engagement of the catch 19 with the slot 23. When it is desired to lower the U-shaped member 1, the knob 20' is pulled outwardly against the force of the compression spring 22 so that the catch clears the slot 23, whereupon, the U-shaped member 1 can be shifteddownwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and secured in place by releasing the knob 20 to permit engagement of the catch 19 within the upper slot 24. It

will be apparent that by loosening the locking bolts 45,

46, it is possible to remove the entire side rail structure for storage or transfer to another bed. It is also possible It is also possible to provide .a modified form ofvside rail A, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, similar to the side Patented Mar. 22, 1960' that the leg 7' is provided with apertures 51, 52, whichare aligned with corresponding aperture 53, 54, drilled in the bed rail 25'. The apertures 51, 53, and 52, 54, are respectively aligned and bolts 55, 56, suitably secured therein by means of lock nuts 57, 58. Fitted around the bolts 55, 56, and interposed between the leg 7' and bed rail 25' are sleeve-like spacer blocks 59, 60, by which the side rail A and bed rail 25' may be rigidly secured together in spaced relationship in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The side rail A' can be removed in its entirety from the bed rail merely by loosening the nuts 57, 58, and removing the bolts 55, 56. As in the case of the previously described embodiment, it is also possible to equip a number of different hospital beds, on a more or less permanent basis, with mounting channels and insert or remove the U- shaped members 1' whenever and wherever needed.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the side rails for hospital beds may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A side rail adapted to be secured to a hospital bed rail, said side rail comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel having spaced sides connected by a web, a side rail member of inverted U-shape and consisting of two parallel legs transversely connected at their upper ends by a horizontal .bight, said legs extending through and being shiftably mounted in opposite ends of said web, a rod mounted at its upper end in said bight and extending vertically downwardly intermediate said legs and parallel thereto, said rod also extending through and being slidably mounted in said web, said rod furthermore having a plurality of axially spaced annular slots along its length, catch means shiftably mounted in one of said sides transversely of said leg for optional engagement within said slot, spring means operatively associated with the catch means for biasing said catch means toward engaged position, spacing means interposed between the hospital bed rail and the mounting member and having a flat face for abutment against a vertical face of the bed rail, a finger formed on the spacing means and projecting outwardly from said fiat face for hook-wise engagement over the upper edge of the bed rail adjacent to the vertical face against which the fiat face of the spacing means abuts, a U-shaped clamping member rockably mounted on the spacing means and having legs extending on opposite sides of said spring means, and a clamping screw threadedly engaged in one of said legs for drawing said mounting channel and hospital bed rail into rigid, grip- In this'form of the informing engagement with the spacing means, and a side rail member operatively mounted on the mounting member.

2. A side rail adapted to be secured to a hospital bed rail, said side rail comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel having spaced sides connected by a web, a side rail member of inverted U- shape and consisting of two parallel legs transversely connected at their upper ends by a horizontal bight, saidlegs extending through and being shiftably mounted in opposite ends of said web, a rod mounted at its upper end in said bight and extending vertically downwardly intermediate said legs and parallel thereto, said rod also extending through and being slidably mounted in said Web, said rod furthermore having a plurality of axially spaced annular slots along its length, catch means shiftably mounted in one of said sides transversely of said leg for optional engagement within said slot, spring means operatively associated with the catch means for biasing said catch means toward engaged position, spacing means interposed between the hospital bed rail and one of said sides and having a fiat face for abutment against a vertical face of the bed rail, a finger formed on the spacing means and projecting outwardly from said fiat face for hook-wise engagement over the upper edge of the bed rail adjacent to the vertical face against which the Hat face of the spacing means abuts, a U- shaped clamping member rockably mounted on the spacing means and having legs extending on opposite sides of said spring means, and a clamping screw threadedly engaged in one of said legs for drawing said mounting channel and hospital bed rail into rigid, gripforming engagement with the spacing means, and a side rail member operatively mounted on the mounting channel.

3. A side rail adapted to be secured to a hospital bed rail, said side rail comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel having spaced sides connected by a web, a side rail member of inverted U-shape and consisting of two parallel legs transversely connected at their upper ends by a horizontal bight, said legs extending through and being shiftably mounted in opposite ends of said web, a rod mounted at its upper end in said bight and extending vertically downwardly intermediate .said legs and parallel thereto, said rod also extending through and being slidably mounted in said web, said rod furthermore having a plurality of axially spaced annular slots along its length, springbiased catch means shiftably mounted in one of said side transversely of said leg for optional engagement within said slot, spacing means interposed between the hospital bed rail and one of said sides, said spacing means having a flat face for abutment against a vertical face of the bed rail, a finger formed on the spacing means and projecting outwardly from said flat face for hook-wise engagement over the upper edge of the bed rail adjacent to the vertical face against which the fiat face of the spacing means abuts, a U-shaped clamping member integrally including a pair of upwardly extending spaced parallel legs integrally connected by a transverse bight, said bight being rockably mounted on the lower end of the spacing means and the legs of said clamping member extending upwardly on opposite sides of the spacing means in outwardly spaced relation thereto, one of said legs having an inwardly presented face for abutting engagement against the bed rail, the other of said legs being threadedly provided at its upper end with a clamping screw adapted to engage one of-the sides of the mounting channel for drawing said mounting channel and hospital bed rail into rigid, grip-forming engagement with the spacing means, and a side rail mmeber operatively mounted on the mounting channel.

4. A side rail adapted to be secured to a hospital bed rail, said side rail comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel having spaced sides connected by a web, a side rail member of inverted U-shaped and consisting of two parallel legs transversely connected at their upper ends by a horizontal bight, said legs extending through and being shiftably mounted in opposite ends of said web, a rodmounted at its per end in said bight and extending vertically downwardly intermediate said legs and parallel thereto, said rod also extending through and being slidably mounted in said web, said rod furthermore having a plurality of axially spaced annular slots along its length, springbiased catch means shiftably mounted in one of said sides transversely of said leg for optional engagement within said slot, aspacing bracket interposed between. the hospital bed rail and pne side of the side membersof'the mounting channel, a pair of-arms rockably mounted on said bracket and being adapted to bear against the hospital bed rail, a pair of bolts cooperating with said arms and adapted to bear'a'g'ainst said amide member, means for actuating said bolts for drawing said mounting channel, spacing bracket and hospital bed rail mto rigid assembled relation, and a side rail member operatively mounted on said mounting channel.

5. A side rail adapted to be secured to a hospital bed rail, said side rail comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel. having spaced sides connected by a web, a side rail member of inverted) U-shape and consisting of two parallel legs transversely connected at their upper ends by a horizontal bight, said legs extending through and beingshiftably mounted in opposite ends of said web, a rod mounted at its upper end in said bight and extending'vertically downwardly intermediate said legs and parallel thereto, said rod also extending through and being slidably'mou'nted in said web, said rod furthermore having a plurality ofaxially spaced annular slots along its length, spring-biased catch means shiftably mounted in'one-of said sides transversely of said leg for optional engagement within said slot, a spacing bracket interposed between the hospital bed rail and one side of the side members of the mounting channel, a pair of U-shaped arms rockably mounted on said bracket and being adapted to bear against the hospital bed rail, a pair of bolts threaded through said arms and adapted to bear against said one side member, means for actuating said bolts for drawing said mounting channel, spacing bracket and hospital bed rail into rigid assembled relation, and a side rail member operatively mounted on said mounting channel.

6. A side rail adapted to be secured to a hospital bed rail, said side rail comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel having spaced sides connected by a web, a side rail member of inverted U-shape and consisting of two parallel legs transversely connected at their upper ends by a horizontal bight, said legs extending through and being shiftably mounted in opposite ends of said web, a rod mounted at its upper end in said bight and extending vertically downwardly intermediate said legs and parallel thereto, said rod also extending through and being slidably mounted in said web, said rod furthermore having a plurality of axially spaced annular slots along its length, spring-biased catch means shiftably mounted in one of said sides transversely of said leg for optional engagement within said slot, a spacing bracket interposed between the hospital bed rail and one side of the mounting channel, said mounting bracket having overhanging fingers adapted to bear against the top of the hospital bed rail, a pair of arms rockably mounted on said bracket and being adapted to bear against the hospital bed rail, a pair of bolts cooperating with said arms and adapted to bear against said one side member, means for actuating said bolts for drawing said mounting channel, spacing bracket and hospital bed rail into rigid assembled relation, and a side rail member operatively mounted on said mounting channel.

7. A side rail adapted to be secured to a hospital bed rail, said side rail comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel having spaced sides connected by a web, a side rail member of inverted U- shape and consisting of two parallel legs transversely connected at their upper ends by a horizontal bight, said legs extending through and being shiftably mounted in opposite ends of said web, a rod mounted at its upper end in said bight and extending vertically downwardly intermediate said legs and parallel thereto, said rod also extending through and being slidably mounted in said web, said rod furthermore having a plurality of axially spaced annular slots along its length, spring-biased catch means shiftably mounted in one of said sides transversely of said leg for optional engagement within said slot, spacing means interposed between the hospital bed rail and one side of the mounting channel, bolt means projecting through the hospital bed rail and said one side of the mounting channel and adapted 'to' draw rue'i mounting channel and hospital bed rail into rigid as-l scm'bled relation, and a side rail member operatively mounted on said mounting channel.

8. A side rail adapted to be secured to a hospital bed rail, said side rail comprising ,a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel having spaced sides connected by a web, a side rail member of inverted U-shape and consisting of two parallel legs transverse, ly connected at their upper ends by a horizontal bight, said legs extending through and being shiftably mounted in opposite ends of said web, a rod mounted at its upper end in said bight and extending vertically downwardly intermediate said legs and parallel thereto, said rod also extending through and being slidably mounted in said. web, said rod furthermore having a plurality of axially spaced annular slots along its length, spring-biased catch means shiftably mounted in one of said sides transversely. ofsaid leg for optional engagement within-said slot, a plurality of spacing blocks interposed between the hospital bed rail and one side of the mounting channel,; a plurality of bolts projecting through the hospital bed rail and said one side of the mounting channel and, adapted to draw the mounting channel, spacing blocks, and hospital bed rail into rigid assembled relation, and a side rail member operatively mounted on said mounting channel.

9. A side rail adapted to be secured to a hospital bed rail, said side rail comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel having spaced sides connected by a web, a side rail member of inverted U-shape and consisting of two parallel legs transversely connected at their upper ends by a horizontal bight, said legs extending through and being shiftably mounted in opposite ends of said web, a rod mounted at its upper end in said bight and extending vertically downwardly intermediate said legs and parallel thereto, said rod also extending through and being slidably mounted in said web, said rod furthermore having a plurality of axially spaced annular slots along its length, springbiased catch means shiftably mounted in one of said sides transversely of said leg for optional engagement within said slot, a plurality of spacing blocks interposed between the hospital bed rail and one side of the mounting channel, a plurality of bolts projecting through the hospital bed rail and said one side of the mounting channel and adapted to draw the mounting channel, spacing blocks, and hopsital bed rail into rigid assembled relation, said bolts furthermore projecting through said spacing blocks, and a side rail member operatively mounted on said mounting channel.

10. A side rail for beds comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel having spaced sides connected by a web, a side rail member of inverted U-shape and consisting of two parallel legs transversely connected at their upper ends by a horizontal bight, said legs extending through and being shiftably mounted in opposite ends of said web, a rod mounted at its upper end in said bight and extending vertically downwardly intermediate said legs and parallel thereto, said rod also extending through and being slidably mounted in said web, said rod furthermore having a plurality of axially spaced annular slots along its length, and springbiased catch means shiftably mounted in one of said sides transversely of said leg for optional engagement within said slot.

11. A side rail for hospital beds comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped channel having spaced sides joined by a web, means for removably securing the outwardly presented face of one of said sides of the channel to a vertical face of one of the bed rails of the hospital bed, a side rail member having inverted U-shape and consisting of two spaced vertical legs connected at their upper ends by a horizontal bight, said legs extending through and being shiftably mounted in said web, said side rail rnernber including a rod secured at its upper end to the bight and extending downwardly therefrom mid? way between the legs andbeing parallel thereto, said rod having a plurality of slots therein, and a spring-biased catch shiftable in one of said sides transversely of said rod for optional engagement with any one of said slots for locking said side rail member in position on said channel.

'12. A side rail for hospital beds comprising a downwardly opening elongated U-shaped mounting channel having spaced vertical side walls connected by a horizontal web, clamping means for rigidly attaching the outwardly presented face of one of said vertical side walls to one of the bed rails of the hospital bed for removably securing the mounting channel to said hospital bed, a l lshaped side rail member having a plurality of spaced parallel legsshiftably mounted in and extending through said webQone of said legs being provided with an upper and lower slot, a plunger operatively mounted onfthe other side of said mounting chanel and being provided with a catch, a manipulating knob secured to said plunger, and spring means operatively associated with said plunger for biasing said catch into-optional engagement within either of said slots.

13. A side rail for hospital beds comprising a downoutwarrdly presented .faeetof one of said vertical side walls to one of the bed rails of thehospital-bed for removably.

securing the mounting iohannel to 'said hospital bed, a u shaped side rail member having a plurality of spaced parallel legsshift'ably mounted in and extending through said web,,vo ne gt said legs "being provided with an upper and lower slot, a mounting block mounted on the other side pfsaid mounting channel, a plunger slidably mounted in said mounting block and being provided on one end w t a ca h ama in lati kn b se u to e other n o said'plttnss r d p in v means Operatively so a ed with. said nl nss f bi s n i catch int pti l n a eme t w thin s t o d o s- Ref erenc es Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2 3 Pratt Dec. 31, 1957 

